New child care centre to rise from the ashes

ALMOST a year since the devastating fire that gutted the Child Welfare Durban and District’s Edith Benson Babies Home, the board and management of Child Welfare are still waiting for the Department of Social Development to give them the go-ahead to rebuild the much-needed facility.

President of the board, Rajan Pillay, said admissions to Edith Benson and William Clark Gardens have been put on hold pending the investigation by the Department.

“Next month will be a year since the tragic incident and as per procedure, the Department has been investigating the incident.We are now at the juncture where we are hoping the Department will come back to us so we can make plans to rebuild,” he said.

Pillay said the insurance company’s investigation had revealed that the cause of the fire was due to faulty wiring. He said the outpouring of help from the community and media since February olast year had been overwhelming.

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“We still get feedback from the community and are currently in discussions with corporates such as the Willowton Group who will be partnering with us to rebuild,” he said.

Pillay said the Edith Benson Babies Home building had been bequested to the Welfare. He said children had received a good upbringing in the home over the years but the Board had decided to build a world-class leading child and youth care centre on the premises.

“We have had surveyors and architects on site and a sketch has been put together representing what would be best for the land. The surveyors have noted the possibility of a two storey building. We have the opportunity to be able to build a world-class facility for the babies,” he said, adding that the process was a slow one. According to Pillay, around 4 000 children are abandoned annually.

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“We are passionate about children and their well-being and feel frustrated at the delay,” he said.

Pillay said the Welfare had tried to fast track the process, however their hands were tied and they had to wait for the Department to respond. “We will be meeting again with the Willowton Group and we invite other corporates to get involved by, for example, by sponsoring a wing at the centre,” he said.

Anyone wanting to help throup sponsoring the build or by providing items on the Welfare’s wishlist, they can contact director@cwdd.org.za.

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